Many people think that border-related policies effect only people living in border towns like El Paso or San Diego. The reality is that Border Patrol's interior enforcement operations encroach deep into and across the United States, affecting the majority of Americans.

The government claims a decades-old federal regulation authorizes extreme police powers within 100 miles of U.S. land and coastal borders. The geography swept up by this regulation includes most of the nation's largest metropolitan areas.

Using data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, the ACLU has determined that approximately two-thirds of the entire U.S. population (roughly 200 million people) lives within 100 miles of a U.S. border.

The government is assuming extraordinary powers to stop and search individuals within this zone, often resulting in violations of constitutional rights.